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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Alangaara Pandhal

From Vada Chennai · 2018

Lyricist
Dholak Jegan
Singer
Dholak Jegan
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Vada Chennai2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Alangaara pandhalilaeUnder the decorated canopy
Alangaara pandhalilaeUnder the decorated canopy
Azhagaaga padukka vaithomWe have laid him down beautifully
Engal nanban indru maraindha naalToday is the day our friend passed away
Anbu nanban indru maanda naalToday is the day our beloved friend perished
Male
Alangaara pandhalilaeUnder the decorated canopy
Alangaara pandhalilaeUnder the decorated canopy
Azhagaaga padukka vaithomWe have laid him down beautifully
Engal nanban indru maraindha naalToday is the day our friend passed away
Anbu nanban indru maanda naalToday is the day our beloved friend perished
Male
Aaaa….aaa…aaa…Ah... ah... ah...
Ooooo…ooo…oooOh... oh... oh...
Aaaa…aaaa…aaa….Ah... ah... ah...
Ooo…..oooo…oooo….Oh... oh... oh...
Male
Chennai maanagarinilaeIn the mega city of Chennai
Kaasi maettu oorinilaeIn the neighborhood of Kasimedu
Seerodu vaazhndha engalOur friend who lived with honor
Nanbar maraindhaaraeHas passed away
Seerodu vaazhndha engalOur friend who lived with honor
Nanbar maraindhaaraeHas passed away
Male
Paasathudan pazhagivittuAfter showering us with affection
Paadhiyilae pirindhaaraeHe departed midway through life
Paasathudan pazhagivittuAfter showering us with affection
Paadhiyile pirindhaaraeHe departed midway through life
Vaazhum chinna vayadhinilaeAt a tender young age meant for living
Vaazhaamal maraindhaaraeHe passed away without getting to live
Vaazhum chinna vayadhinilaeAt a tender young age meant for living
Vaazhaamal maraindhaaraeHe passed away without getting to live
Male
Alangaara pandhalilaeUnder the decorated canopy
Alangaara pandhalilaeUnder the decorated canopy
Azhagaaga padukka vaithomWe have laid him down beautifully
Engal nanban indru maraindha naalToday is the day our friend passed away
Aruyir nanban engalai marandha naalToday is the day our precious friend forgot us
Male
Vaazhthida unnai inguTo bless or praise you here
Vaarthaigalum illai nanbaaThere are no words left, my friend
Vaazhthida unnai inguTo bless or praise you here
Vaarthaigalum illai nanbaaThere are no words left, my friend
Vaazhndhadhu podhumendruThinking you had lived enough
Paadhiyil pirindhaayaaDid you leave us midway?
Vaazhndhadhu podhumendruThinking you had lived enough
Paadhiyil pirindhaayaaDid you leave us midway?
Male
Sondhangalai marandhuvittuForgetting all your loved ones
Thanimaiyilae uranga sendraaiYou went to sleep in solitude
Sondhangalai marandhuvittuForgetting all your loved ones
Thanimaiyilae uranga sendraaiYou went to sleep in solitude
Paasathudan pazhagivittuAfter bonding with us affectionately
Paadhiyilae pirindhuvittaaiYou separated from us midway
Paasathudan pazhagivittuAfter bonding with us affectionately
Paadhiyilae pirindhuvittaaiYou separated from us midway
Male
Alangaara pandhalilaeUnder the decorated canopy
Alangaara pandhalilaeUnder the decorated canopy
Azhagaaga padukka vaithomWe have laid him down beautifully
Engal nanban indru maanda naalToday is the day our friend perished
Anbu nanban indru maraindha naalToday is the day our beloved friend passed away
Male
Aaaa….aaa…aaa…Ah... ah... ah...
Ooooo…ooo…oooOh... oh... oh...
Aaaa…aaaa…aaa….Ah... ah... ah...
Ooo…..oooo…oooo….Oh... oh... oh...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Alangaara Pandhalilae is a deeply emotional mourning song (Death Gaana / Oppari) from the movie Vada Chennai, written and rendered in traditional North Chennai folk style. The song conveys the raw grief of a group of friends standing beside the body of their young companion, who has met an untimely death in Kasimedu, Chennai.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Paasathudan pazhagivittu / Paadhiyilae pirindhaarae

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound across adjacent words creates a rhythmic flow.

Euphemism

Thanimaiyilae uranga sendraai

Refers to death gently as going to sleep in solitude ('uranga sendraai').

Antithesis / Oxymoron

Vaazhum chinna vayadhinilae / Vaazhaamal maraindhaarae

Contrasts the age meant for living ('vaazhum chinna vayadhinilae') with dying unfulfilled ('vaazhaamal maraindhaarae').

Anaphora (Refrain)

Alangaara pandhalilae / Azhagaaga padukka vaithom

Repetition of chorus lines to emphasize grief and ground the listener in the funeral setting.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written and performed in authentic North Chennai Gaana tradition by folk artist Dholak Jegan, this track represents the deep-rooted community culture of singing Oppari (elegy) during funerals in Kasimedu and coastal Chennai, honoring lost loved ones through song.

Keep listening

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